Licence plate sells for £270k after auction battle

The 111 plate became the focus of bids from two people

An "aesthetically pleasing" car licence plate has been sold for £270,000 in Guernsey after a battle between two bidders.

The 111 plate went under the hammer at Martel Maides Auctions, at Les Cotils in St Peter Port, on Wednesday with an estimated price of £55,000 to £60,000.

Auctioneer Jason Yendell said an online bidder and someone in the room got in a "determined" tussle before the latter took the lot home for a price that beat the auction house's previous record of £240,000 for a 007 plate.

Mr Yendell said it had been anticipated the sale figure would be high as auctioneers knew the licence plate had been much coveted.

"It had a relatively high estimate all because it looks really good on a car," he said.

"People buy number plates for various reasons and some think some numbers look better than others and the 111 plate is rather aesthetically pleasing."

The licence plate was one of several sold during the auction, with the next highest sale price being £12,500 for an 073 plate.

Mr Yendell added: "There was a round of applause when the hammer went down for the 111 plate.

"The winning bidder is from the island, wants to remain private, but I'm sure you'll see him at some point driving around."